The national holiday marks May 25, 2000, when Israeli forces ended a 22-year presence in southern Lebanon following years of conflict. This year’s commemoration came amid continuing hostilities along the Israeli-Lebanese border, prompting Lebanese officials to emphasize the unresolved security situation in the south.

Prime Minister Nawaf Salam said the anniversary should serve as a moment of national solidarity with families affected by the ongoing conflict, including those who have lost relatives, been wounded, displaced or remain in frontline communities.

In a statement posted on social media, Salam said Lebanon would reserve celebrations until Israeli forces had fully withdrawn from Lebanese territory and displaced residents could safely return to their homes.
President Joseph Aoun described the 2000 withdrawal as the result of sacrifices made by residents of southern Lebanon, calling the anniversary a symbol of national dignity.

He said, however, that the occasion was being observed amid continued military operations in southern villages and what he characterized as ongoing violations of international resolutions, including United Nations Security Council Resolution 1701.

Aoun reiterated Lebanon’s commitment to securing a complete Israeli withdrawal through diplomatic negotiations while emphasizing the role of the Lebanese state and armed forces in safeguarding national sovereignty.

The statements came as tensions remained elevated in southern Lebanon. Residents of 10 villages were ordered to evacuate on Monday as bombardments continued and concerns mounted over a broader escalation along the border region.

According to Lebanon’s Health Ministry, Israeli airstrikes on Sunday killed at least 18 people and wounded 21 others. The ministry said the cumulative death toll linked to the conflict had reached 3,151.

The anniversary has long held symbolic significance in Lebanon’s modern history, marking the end of Israel’s military presence in most of southern Lebanon after more than two decades. This year, however, the observance reflected the extent to which renewed cross-border hostilities have reshaped the country’s political and security landscape.

Lebanese leaders used the occasion to underscore both the legacy of the 2000 withdrawal and the challenges posed by the current conflict, as military operations and civilian displacement continue to affect communities across the south.

Israeli army radio said troops from the Egoz Unit and the reconnaissance company of the Golani Brigade operated near the outskirts of Zawtar al-Sharqiya, roughly 10 kilometers from the Israeli border.

The reported incursion marked one of the deepest publicly acknowledged Israeli ground movements into southern Lebanon since cross-border hostilities intensified earlier this year.

Israeli media said Hezbollah fighters emerged from a tunnel north of the Litani River during one clash, triggering direct fighting with Israeli troops.

Israel confirmed several soldiers were wounded during the operation but did not disclose the number of casualties.

According to Israeli broadcaster Channel 14, the military operations north of the river were intended to prepare routes for possible future movement of armored and infantry units toward areas from which Hezbollah had launched rockets and drones into Israel.

The Israeli military said it had struck more than 100 targets in southern Lebanon over the past week.

The escalation comes despite an April 17 ceasefire agreement between Israel and Lebanon aimed at reducing hostilities following months of fighting between Israeli forces and the Iran-backed Hezbollah movement.

Israeli airstrikes and artillery attacks have continued across southern Lebanon, while Hezbollah has maintained cross-border rocket and drone attacks targeting northern Israel.

Lebanese health authorities say more than 2,800 people have been killed since Israel intensified military operations against Hezbollah on March 2 as part of a broader regional offensive.

Israeli forces have also continued issuing evacuation orders for residents living south of the Litani River, urging civilians to move further north.

The Litani River has long held strategic importance in conflicts involving Hezbollah and Israel, particularly under the terms of United Nations Security Council Resolution 1701, which sought to limit armed group activity south of the river following the 2006 Lebanon war.